WA Masters finish on a high

The WA State Masters team finished third at the 2017 Seniors World Cup in Phitsanulok, Thailand, with a 2-1 win over Scotland in a play-off match.

After losing 6-1 to England in the semi-final, the WA team rallied to score a memorable victory.

England went on to win the Cup with a 2-0 win over Iran.

Australia had finished second in their group with two wins and a draw and were thrilled with the prospect of taking on a star-studded England side.

The English team, consisting of players such as Peter Beagrie, Barry Hayles and Lee Trundle, was packed with the experience of a combined 8,000 league appearances. Ex- Celtic, Perth Glory and current WA Masters player-coach Marc Anthony had predicted the WA side were in for a tough test.

WA beat host-nation Thailand in their opening match 1-0 thanks to a second half, long-range winner from Damien Todorovic.

In their second match against heavyweights Iran, WA went 1-0 down before being reduced to 10 men after Dusan Macara received his second yellow card.

Eugene Dadi salvaged a point with an extraordinary bicycle kick with the game finishing 1-1.

WA’s final match of the group stage finished with a 2-1 win over Taiwan.